Lance's main captain, Ryan, had just taken Joktan's place. Joktan was assassinated just a month earlier, and Link needed someone else. Now he worked for Lance, whom he was carrying in a stretcher to the medical wagon. He hoped that he would live. If he didn't, he only had hours to live. They had discovered that it was Octorok blood in his drink, due to the symptoms.
He lifted the stretcher into the back of the wagon and placed it on the medical bed. His eyes were closed, but he was breathing, however slowly.
Ryan gave the signal for the wagon to move on, and they exited the Kokiri Forest, with hopes of the king getting well and even Get Well cards.
They traveled across the wooden bridge and out of the wooden tunnel, taking them into Hyrule Field. It was only a few hours from here. Ryan just hoped that it would be long enough.
He led the armies, since the head general was obviously unable to. He made sure that Lance wasn't being jerked around by the unsteadiness of the wagon.
They went over the rise and laid their eyes upon Hyrule City. It was always a good sight to look upon. It screamed, "Home." They were almost there. Just about a half hour.
They went along, and Lance began mumbling in his sleep. That was one of the final signs of Octorok blood poisoning. Time was running out.
They stopped in front of the city gates and called out their purpose, allowing them passage. They hurried through the Market and up the dirt path to the castle. They were rushed through the castle gates, since they had received word that the king was terribly sick.
They entered the castle, to see the King Father and the Queen Mother racing toward them, along with the queen.
"What has happened to my son?" cried Link. He was lifted out of the wagon and Zelda and Marin put hands to their mouths in disgust when they saw the paleness in Lance's face. They carried him off and into his bedchamber, where they had a surgeon examine him.
"I have a feeling that he won't make it," he said. "I am not sure, but there is a very small chance of survival. There is something still that could save him, but I have a feeling that you won't get it."
"What is it?" Link demanded. The surgeon looked to the floor and said, "Deku sap."
Link cursed. If they saw another member of the Royal Family there they'd slaughter them. He didn't know what to do.
Marin burst out of the room suddenly. People called after her, but she kept on marching. She left the castle and wound all the way around the dirt path, by herself, to the Temple of Time.
She rushed down the red carpet and to the altar, where a priest asked her what she wanted.
"I just need to pray," she said. The priest nodded and left her in peace.
She prayed with all her might and soul to the goddesses above. She prayed that they might spare her husband, and that the Octorok blood poisoning would diminish without the need of Deku sap. She prayed for hours and hours, until the priest came to her and told her that he needed to lock up. She closed in the name of the Triforce and left the Temple, high hopes in mind.
Upon her return to the castle, she was asked many questions about what she thought she was doing and why.
"It is between me and the goddesses," she said simply. The people understood and left her be.
She had a mournful week, yet hopeful. She received her answer on the following Thursday.